This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/XMB.2ACE/852.1 Message Board Post: William H. Smith...this is what I have. W. Henry Smith W. Henry Smith3. He married Sarah Jane Henson. Notes for W. Henry Smith: Any way, my most current discovery is this: An aritcle in the Marble Hill press dated August 30, 1894 states; Shot by a "friend' - "The only thing that I regret is that I was killed by a man whom I thought my best friend." These were the words of W.H. Smith as he lay dying at the residence of his brother - in-law, Dr. E.P. Biggs on Union Street, at one o'clock last Sunday morning from the effects of a pistol shot, in the hands of Henry Billings at 9:30 o'clock Saturday evening. Smith lived but four hours after receiving the mortal wound. The men each about 22 years old had been about town together for some time during the evening and had been drinking some. To those who saw them they appeared to be on the best of terms, and in fact they had been, apparently, chums, since Smith's arrival from a western trip about a month ago. They went into Burkett's restaurant about 8:30 and Smith ordered a lunch, at the same time inviting Billings to eat with him. He declined and also declined an offered glass of cider. Smith ate his lunch and during the meal was called to the door by Billings and a short conversation was had. No one knows what was said, however. They then went to J.H. Lutes' grocery store and restaurant and Smith called for dried beef. When the beef had been secured Billings remarked: "You have already eat everthing Burkett had, are you going to eat all that Lutes has?" "Yes sir, I am man enough to do it" replied Smith. Several remarks of this nature passed, suppolsed by the clerk, H. F. Steele, Richard Phelps, Albert Revelle, Andrew Stickler, Charles Hobbs, Sankey Phelps and Harry Wann the only other person in the store, to be good humored joking. Billings then stepped outside for a moment, but soon returned and seated himself by Smith who had in the meantime begun to eat the beef, cutting it from the piece with a barlow knife. Smith put his right arm about Billings' neck, and began moving his hand with the knife in it about his face, making some remark to the effect of "How would you like to be cut?" he had just before done Clerk Steele the same way. Billings then arose and said: "Be careful with that knife, " at the same time carring his hand toward his hip pocket. Smith said in effect: "Pull that thing out here; don't go out in the dark to do it." Billings replied that he had nothing in his pocket to pull out. Smith then said: 'Josh I thought we were good friends." "II thought so too." replied Billings. Some other words between the two followed, and Billings walked out of the door. Those persons then in the restaurant supposed that the matter was ended and that Billings had gone. Shortly after Billings went out Smith walked towards the door, and leaned against it. At this instant Billings fired amd Smith fell, saying, "I am shot!" the ball entering the abdomen and ranging toward the right shoulder. When Billings shot he said: "Now follow me!" he then turned and walked home carrying the pistol in his hand. he was arrested the same night by Constable Slinkard, and waiving preliminary examination was taken to jail Tuesday. Smith was carried to Dr. Reck's office the rear of Dr. Biggs' drug store and Drs. Biggs, Witmer, Sander, Jacques, Reck and Mayfield of Advance summoned. An examination was made and the would declared fatal. [the end] Children of W. Henry Smith and Sarah Jane Henson are: Nellie Smith, b. June 08, 1892, Sturdivant MISSOURI3, d. November 08, 1971, Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau, MISSOURI3.